NJPW announces SANADA is medically cleared to return

After an illness forced him out of action, SANADA is preparing for his in-ring return.

The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion hasn’t wrestled for nearly a month. It was announced on April 30 that he had been pulled from a slate of NJPW events and would be undergoing a medical appraisal.

SANADA has now been medically cleared to return. He’ll be back in the ring “in the near future.”

“SANADA, who has been absent from matches since April 27 in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall due to a health concern, has undergone evaluation at a Tokyo hospital and deemed medically cleared. SANADA will be working toward a return to the ring in the near future,” NJPW announced. “SANADA and New Japan Pro-Wrestling appreciate fans’ support and understanding.”

During his time out of action, SANADA missed the remainder of NJPW’s Wrestling Dontaku tour, both nights of Wrestling Dontaku, United Japan Pro-Wrestling’s All Together event, and the Best of the Super Juniors tour.

SANADA is a one-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, holding the title from April 2023 to January 2024.

Challenging for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship looks to be the direction upon SANADA’s return. David Finlay mentioned SANADA in his post-match comments after winning the title at Wrestling Dontaku. SANADA defeated Finlay when they faced off in the finals of the 2023 New Japan Cup.